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PETITIONER: MOTHER SUPERIOR, INFANT JESUS FRANSICANCLARIST CONVENT, ENGA

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: AMBI KUNJUMON & ORS. ETC.

DATE OF JUDGMENT30/11/1995

BENCH: RAMASWAMY, K. BENCH: RAMASWAMY, K. MAJMUDAR S.B. (J)

CITATION:  1996 SCC  (7) 173        JT 1995 (9)    21  1995 SCALE  (7)250

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                          O R D E R      Leave granted.      The only  question is whether the appellant’s Orphanage is a person within the meaning of s.2(43) of the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1961. Section 75(1) says of "kudikidappu Karan" (Homestead dweller)  to have  fixity of tenure and shall not be liable to be evicted from his homestead except on grounds mentioned in  sub-ss.(i) to  (iv)  thereof.  Sub-s.(2)  says "Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-s.(1), the person in possession  of the  land on which there is a homestead or hut in  the occupation of a kudikidappukaran may, if he bona fide requires  the land  for constructing a building for his own residence  require the  kudikippukaran to shift to a new site".  Sub-s.(3)   says   that   notwithstanding   anything contained in  sub-s.(1) and  (3) where  the total  extent of land held by a person, either as owner or as tenant, is less than one acre and there is a kudikidappu on any land held by him, he  may, if  he requires  the  land  occupied  by  such kudikidappu  for   constructing  a   building  for  his  own residence apply  to the  Government for  the acquisition  of land to  which the kudikidappu may be shifted. Section 2(43) defines person  which includes a company etc. Therefore, the Society which  is registered  under the Society Registration Act doing  charitable work,  namely, orphanage  by nuns  and sisters is  a person  within the  meaning of  s.2(43) of the Act. Thereby, under sub-s.(3) read with sub-s.(2) of s.75 of the Act,  the appellant  is entitled  the land  to construct building for  orphanage when  they intend to seek possession from Kudikidappu Karan.      They required  the government  to acquire  the land  to which Kudikidappu  Karan may be shifted. It is stated across the bar  that the  appellant has  already offered attractive accommodation to  the respondents.  In  paragraph  7  it  is stated that  the Special  Tahsildar accordingly after notice to the  parties with the assistance of the Revenue Inspector

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and Village  Officer measured  out the site and fixed up the shifting expenses  at Rs.8000/-.  Thereafter, a  Draft  sale deed was  prepared and  on approval  of  the  draft  by  the Tribunal the appellant registered the sale deed in favour of the Kudikidappu  Karan in  respect of  the site measured and set out  by the  Tahsildar. Under  these circumstances,  the appellant had  clearly complied  with the  provisions of the Act and entitled to construct the building for orphanage and the  residence   of  nuns   and  sisters.  The  appeals  are accordingly allowed.  The respondents are at liberty to take the expenses  of Rs.8000/-  per each  of the  two  huts  and construct the  huts in  the alternative  site given  by  the appellant. The  respondents are  also at liberty to withdraw Rs.4,000/- directed to be deposited by the appellants in the Registry of  this Court.  Counsel for the respondents are at liberty to  deduct his  fee and  give  the  balance  to  the respondents, if any.